Biophotonic & Spectroscopy

The Biophotonics & Spectroscopy group focuses on the establishment of non-destructive and marker-independent microscopic techniques in biomedical research.

Using endogenous fluorophores and molecule-specific spectral signatures - comparable to a characteristic fingerprint - images and data can be collected without an impact on the sample state and thus enables time-resolved, dynamic measurements. In addition to sample visualization, the combination with spectroscopic techniques provides insights into the molecular composition of the sample. Thus, subtle differences in molecular composition and structure can be identified and simultaneous investigation of a variety of structures (e.g., biological and synthetic structures) can be performed in the same sample.

Together with partners from industrial and academic research we work on individual contract research and service projects.

Our research is currently focused on the following areas:

Tissue Engineering & Implants: Characterization of biomaterials, imaging of remodeling and degradation of biological or synthetic implant components, cell-material interactions, immune responses.

Diagnostics: Development of label-free biomarkers for diagnostics of tissues (e.g. fibrotic or malignant tissue changes) or (body) fluids

Personalized medicine: Oncological & immunological questions such as drug efficacy testing in patient-derived tissue models by time-resolved imaging of metabolic changes and drug monitoring

Process monitoring: Identification and in-line determination of relevant process parameters and product quality e.g. for the production of ATMPs or in the field of bioprinting

Cellular phenotyping: Non-destructive characterization of cellular properties in cell culture models & tissues e.g. polarization, activation, epigenetic changes, differentiation, cell death